# NTSB LAX97LA223: Cessna 140, N4293N, Columbia, CA, June 25, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 25, 1997, 09:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Columbia, CA - Coordinates: 38.110973, -120.379821 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1110&lon=-120.3798&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 10, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29820 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA223 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29820/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA223 ## Probable cause the student pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during a bounced landing recovery. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - fence - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis While practicing short field landings, the student pilot made a hard landing and added power to correct the situation during the subsequent bounce. The aircraft veered left, departed the runway, impacted an airport perimeter fence, and subsequently nosed over. ## Factual narrative On June 25, 1997, at 0900 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 140, N4293N, veered off the runway, struck a perimeter fence, and nosed over while attempting a short field landing maneuver at the Columbia, California, airport. The aircraft, operated by Springfield Flying Service, was on a local instructional flight and sustained substantial damage. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight departed Columbia airport at 0800 for the purpose of practicing landings. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the flight and no flight plan was filed. In her written report, the student pilot reported that she was practicing a ". . .short field landing, bounced and was recovering [the aircraft] something went wrong [and] lost control ran off runway over taxiway into [the perimeter] fence." The student was interviewed by an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector from the Fresno, California, Flight Standards District Office. The inspector said the student "described [the landing] as a hard landing after which she added power to smooth it out. . .the aircraft wanted to go left on its own. . . . She attempted to straighten it up, but before she could the airplane struck the airport perimeter fence and nosed over." The FAA inspector stated that the student pilot was questioned regarding short field landings and other flight maneuvers and answered all questions satisfactorily. He reported that he inspected the brakes and found no pre-existing anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4293N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4293N), registered now, S/N 13764, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 140 - Registry model: [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140) (registry code 2071602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 13764 - Airframe hours: 6517 - Engines: Continental O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Springfield Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 12, 1997, 89 hours before - Departed: 022 - Airport: 022, Columbia, runway 17, 4,675 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 87 total, 52 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SCK, 41 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19970625015919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970625015919A), Jun 25, 1997: Cessna 140, Columbia, CA, Substantial damage. Bounced landing. Lost control. Veered off runway into a fence.. ## Other investigations on N4293N (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB LAX69D0243](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX69D0243), Dec 9, 1968: Cessna 140 (N4293N), Long Beach, CA, substantial damage From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.